Like this:

There lies a path snaking through a jungle
Hardly trodden and deceptive to most eyes
Ask travelers of this path and hear their sighs
“Not a welcome sign, no lights, no sights”
They ventured in but have returned midway
With words of advice to “help fellowmen”
They stutter and speak of impending doom
Of gnarled trees where weird voices whisper
Of strange weeds that no sickle can cut down
And of tangled boughs that block the blue skies
These advisers all come with hand-drawn maps
Showing well-lit ways and smooth pavements
With blue sky above, and green grass below
“These are the roads that we truly deserve,
Short, straight and sweet, signboards very neat”
Most people at this point make their decisions
Borrow the maps and notes with sheer relief
Yet, some persist with an unheard-of belief
They hack through bushes, thorns, and weeds
And just as the world starts with “We told you”
They emerge on the other side for all to envy
For they did get to see bright lights and sights
And of course, the “welcome sign” of success

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Like this:

Sun sets, before the day has ended
Time sighs and then resigns
Itself to march on and ignore
Pleading eyes and shivering skin
Frozen palms beg for respite
Buried in dull grey overcoats
Sunburnt leaves breathe their last
Writhing around on merciless stone
Even the clouds have finally lost it
Tired of smiling for photographs
Sky chokes, smothered it seems
Unless this is all just for laughs
Chapped lips lament to each other
As icy drafts hiss into my ears
“Our turn now, winter is coming”

Like this:

So I got nominated for this game by this blogger. It took a while but I finally got around to doing it, and yay!! This is so much fun!!

What do you think/How do you feel about rain?
I like sitting by the window with a hot cup of coffee watching the drops kiss the glass. I love jumping in puddles sometimes; I absolutely love tasting raindrops. The first scent of rain kissing the parched earth, oooh! Gentle drizzle on the skin, bliss. When it pours cats and dogs, I’d rather be wrapped up in a blanket!

What is the one thing that can always cheer you up?
Chocolate, picnics, romantic comedies, planning surprises 🙂

What kind of books do you like to read?
I take my chances with all genres, but I have a soft corner for thrillers. Medical novels sometimes. I looooved those Enid Blyton fairytales as a kid but have since graduated to Ayn Rand and Paul Coelho. I would have loved for Calvin and Hobbes to go on and on.

Do you like cereal? Which one is your favourite?
I love muesli and cornflakes, good old Kellogg’s.

If you could have any super-power, what would it be?
I’m a curious cat, so I might just take the power to be invisible!

If you had the option, would you want to change your name?
No, I have cool nicknames too, so all settled.

Do you believe in astrology?
Nope, but I do like to see some feel-good forecasts once in a while just like that, hehe.

What do you believe in – fate or coincidence?
Coincidence can be planted if fate decides to, I guess.

What is your favourite quote? (Yes, I know I copied this question, but I want to know your answers!?)
Right now (and it’s been my WhatsApp status for a month) – The toughest steel is forged by the hottest fire.

If you could do any one thing without consequences, what would it be?
Without worrying about consequences, I would just take all the vacations I wanted!

The thing is, I’m bad at tagging selected people, so I declare “Everybody reading this is tagged”. Feel free to write, and let me know when you do 🙂 It is as much fun reading answers as it is writing down stuff! Kinda makes you wonder how much you know yourself…and all that. Go on, give it a try.

For it is time to see this special day’s presents
Me first, me first, mom and dad are screaming
As they stand nearby, my crazy loving parents
The matter’s settled soon, and they are beaming

I sense in excitement that I’m oddly going cold
Oh this aura of mystery is such sweet torment
I wait as the cool cloth gives way, fold by fold
How he takes his own time, gentle and patient

The coolly ticking seconds seem like ages, I think
Voila, it feels so good to break free of soft shell
Sweet lord! I see the world firsthand, gasp and blink
And why our tears are all spilling, I just can’t tell…

Like this:

Answer the call of your life
O bird, for you must realize
Your winged dreams
Multi-hued ambitions
Echo loud the call of your spirit

Rise above the expectations
Of ordinary circumstances
And the accompanying pain
For you are not destined to be
Merely ordinary

Soar high into freedom of soul
Beyond the reach of sullying thought
Purity is in renouncement
And the practice of rightly actions
Even when inconvenient to you

Break out of the chains that hold tight
Carving pitiful marks into your skin
Scream yourself hoarse,
So that you may hear your own voice
And act on its sage advice

Laugh at the sadness you find
Lift the ones bereft of their smile
Do what you need to, even if you can’t
To die trying is better than to give up
On any day, choose to live
Existence cannot be enough!

Rise to the occasion and fly high,
O bird, because you can see yonder
Correct path to trust and follow
Leave the hopeless sighs behind
And explore unknown paths; you may find
Answers, and in them, salvation.

P.S. It is my WordPress anniversary today. Cheers to years of blogging!!!

Fathomless eyes
Stray not an inch
From the epicentre
Of merciless flames
Drawn like moths
Into the brazen heat
Of tragic expression
Willing to perish
Feelings squirm in shame
And writhe in pain
A whole heart carved out
By sharp knives
Into illegible font
Etched on cheap paper
Verses scream stories
At the molten face
Even sealed lips fail
To halt the flow
Of a bleeding love
Ink and parchment
Compose an ironic eulogy
To the life that was
Betrayed by its master
Ambrosia it seemed
Until partaken of
Such scheming hope
The letter a testimony
Surrendering to red logs
That feed the blaze
In an empty house
Remains of love
Lay charred beyond recognition
As the poor thing chokes
And burns to ashes
Taking truth with it
No one need ever know
About the gift
Of mind, heart, and soul
Returned without a note